Can-opener



J RATH (JAN QPBN'ER.

(No Model.)

Patented June 26, 1883.

Z a my UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH BATH, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 280,241, dated June 26, 1883.

' Application filed May 12, 1881 (No model) To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BATH, of Golumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in can-openers; and it consists, first, in the combination of a suitable handle with an extensible rod having a point and shoulder formed upon its outer end; second, in the combination of the handle and extensible rod and two friction-rollers, which are placed at right angles to each other, and a set-screw for holding the rod in position, as will be morefully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a can-opener which can be used for cutting the tops out of circular cans of any size, and which is also adapted for cutting square holes in cans of an angular shape.

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of my invention, taken from opposite sides, one of which shows the rod extended and the other nearly closed. Fig. 3 is an inverted view, showing the rod extended and the parts in position to be used for cutting a square hole.

A represents a suitable handle, which may either be made tubular or as here shown, and which is provided with the two prongs B at its inner end. Through the inner end of this handle is made a suitable opening, through which the extensible rod 0 is passed, and which rod is held in any desired position by means of the set-screw D,which passes down through the end of the handle and bears against the top of the rod. In order to prevent this rod from turning around in the handle, so as to get the-point out of position for use, the top back of this sharp point any suitable distance of penetrating the cover of the can, and just are formed shoulders F, to prevent the point from passing in too far.

Pivoted in between the prongs which are formed upon the front end of the handle is the concave-convex cutter G and the frictionroller H. Both of these parts are placed upon the same pivot, but the diameter of the roller is as much less than that of the cutter as it is desired that the edge of the cutter shall penetrate the cover of the can. This cutter is made convex upon its inner side and concave upon its outer side, so that it will cut through the cover of the can with as little friction and binding as possible. The roller H rests upon the top of the can and prevents the cutter from sinking in too far, and at the same time serves to enable the parts to move around freely and easily.

Projecting horizontally out from one of the projectionsB upon the inner end of the handle is a stud or projection, I, upon which is placed a second friction-roller, J. This roller J is about the same diameter as the one H, but is placed at right angles thereto, at a suitable dis tance aboveit, as shown. This roller J is not brought into operation while a circular opening is being cut in the top of the can, but is used onlywhen a square hole is to be out. When a square hole is to be cut, the rod 0 is extended outward far enough to form a second handle, and then the cutter is turned upon this side, as shown in Fig. 3. This frictionroller J then serves to catch against the outer side or edge of the can, so as to serve as a guide while the cutter is drawn straight across. While this square hole is being cut, the handle A is held in one hand and the rod 0 in the other, and sufficient pressure is exerted downward to cause the cutter to cut through the can. As the friction-roller J serves as a guide to keep the cutter straight, thehole cut in the top of the 'can will conform to the shape of the can, which may be of any angular shape. A circular hole may be cut in a round can in the same manner; but it is much easier to force the sharp point of the rod 0 through the center of the top of the can, then adjust the cutter so as to pass around any desired distance from the edge e of the can, and then move the cutter around,

3. In a can-opener, the combination of a handle having the projections B, an extensible rod, and a set-screw for holding the rod in po sition, with the cutter and the two frictionrollers H J, placed at an'angle and out of line with each other, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH BATH.

Witnesses J. V. LEE, J. S. GOLD. 

